Five Savannah men named in gang unit's first major indictment

Five men on Wednesday were indicted on criminal street gang charges involving drugs, firearms possession and related offenses targeted by a Savannah Police Gang Squad’s initiative.

Sciyheid Brant, 19; Pele Evans, 30; Tykeem Stewart, 20; Jamari Harris, 23; and Leonard Roberts, 20, were named in a 26-count indictment by the Chatham County grand jury for crimes allegedly committed over the last two years involving violations of the state’s Street Gang Terrorism and Prevention Act. All are Savannah residents.

Each was identified in the indictment as a member of the Village Boys Soldiers, which Gang Squad Detective Sgt. Jonathan Puhala on Thursday identified as a Carver Heights-based gang who police identified, in part, by the defendants’ use of social media.

The arrest followed more than a year of intelligence gathering by the new squad and represents a new Savannah Police initiative targeting gang activity, said Puhula, who is supervisor of the eight-member gang and gun violence units.

The indictment was based on three dates -- July 4, 2017; Jan. 17, Feb. 17 -- involving possession of methamphetamine and marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of a firearm during those efforts.

It included multiple charges involving possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony.

Those crimes also included two thefts by receiving stolen property involving two handguns stolen in separate crimes.

Puhala said the indictment was the culmination of about a year’s intelligence gathering and follow-up by the gang unit that started its work in January 2017.

He described the VBS group as a “neighborhood-based gang with no national affiliation,” and called Evans the face of the gang who was arrested on misdemeanor charges prior to the July 4, 2017, activity cited in the indictment.

“That was his first felony arrest,” Puhala said.

The indictment was obtained after presentation of evidence by Chatham County Assistant District Attorney Matt Breedon, the office’s lead gang prosecutor.

Puhala said the indictment represents the first by the Gang Squad since it began work last year.

“This initiative is that new pro-active approach we are taking both as a unit and as a the department as a whole,” Puhala said. “It also serves notice that the department will be pro-active in targeting these gang members.”

Brant was named individually on a charge of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon in connection with a Jan. 17 arrest based on his conviction on Nov. 23, 2015, for armed robbery, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime. He was arrested Jan. 17 while in possession of a Glock handgun shortly after his release from prison on earlier charges, Puhala said.